---
title: "Best Alan Perlis Quotes"
description: "American computer scientist (1922–1990)... | Alan Jay Perlis was an American computer scientist and professor at Purdue University, Carnegie Mellon Univ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b013/author-alan-perlis-11812.jpg"
---

![Portrait of Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b013/author-alan-perlis-11812.jpg)

# Alan Perlis

(1922–1990)   Mathematician

 **57** quotes in **234** categories

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Alan Perlis was a mathematician.

## Quick Facts About Alan Perlis

Born April 1, 1922

Died February 7, 1990

Profession Mathematician

## About Alan Perlis

American computer scientist (1922–1990)... \| Alan Jay Perlis was an American computer scientist and professor at Purdue University, Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University. He is best known for his pioneering work in programming languages and in 1966 he became the first recipient of the ACM Turing Award.

##  Quotes by Alan Perlis · Page 2

> [It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/it-is-easier-to-change-the-specification-to-fit-the-program-than-vice/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/alan-perlis-11812_change_it-is-easier-to-change-the-specification_2929385.png)

> [If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/if-a-listener-nods-his-head-when-you-re-explaining-your-program-wake/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/alan-perlis-11812_explaining_if-a-listener-nods-his-head-when-you-re_2004494.png)

> [LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/lisp-programmers-know-the-value-of-everything-and-the-cost-of-nothing/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/alan-perlis-11812_cost_lisp-programmers-know-the-value-of-every_68348.png)

> [C programmers never die. They are just cast into void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/c-programmers-never-die-they-are-just-cast-into-void/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/alan-perlis-11812_casts_c-programmers-never-die-they-are-just-ca_2941541.png)

> [The computing field is always in need of new cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/the-computing-field-is-always-in-need-of-new-cliches/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Cliches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliches/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/alan-perlis-11812_cliches_the-computing-field-is-always-in-need-of_222442.png)

> [Optimization hinders evolution. Everything should be built top-down, except the first time. Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/optimization-hinders-evolution-everything-should-be-built-top-down/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/alan-perlis-11812_built_optimization-hinders-evolution-everythin_156555.png)

> [Often it is the means that justify the ends: goals advance technique and technique survives even when goal structures crumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/often-it-is-the-means-that-justify-the-ends-goals-advance-technique/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/alan-perlis-11812_ends_often-it-is-the-means-that-justify-the-e_2167899.png)

> [When someone says, "I want a programming language in which I need only say what I want done," give him a lollipop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/when-someone-says-i-want-a-programming-language-in-which-i-need-only/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Computer language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-language/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/alan-perlis-11812_computer-language_when-someone-says-i-want-a-programming-l_2875758.png)

> [A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly any sets of 10K words can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/a-picture-is-worth-10k-words-but-only-those-to-describe-the-picture/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/alan-perlis-11812_photography_a-picture-is-worth-10k-words-but-only-th_2809443.png)

> [In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word "frustration".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/in-computing-turning-the-obvious-into-the-useful-is-a-living/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c66/alan-perlis-11812_computers_in-computing-turning-the-obvious-into-th_2889649.png)

> [When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/when-a-professor-insists-computer-science-is-x-but-not-y-have/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/alan-perlis-11812_compassion_when-a-professor-insists-computer-scienc_299488.png)

> [Adapting old programs to fit new machines usually means adapting new machines to behave like old ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/adapting-old-programs-to-fit-new-machines-usually-means-adapting-new/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/alan-perlis-11812_adapting_adapting-old-programs-to-fit-new-machine_2272724.png)

> [Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/every-program-has-two-purposes-the-one-for-which-it-was-written-and/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/alan-perlis-11812_another_every-program-has-two-purposes-the-one-f_527839.jpg)

> [You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/you-can-measure-a-programmer-s-perspective-by-noting-his-attitude-on/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/alan-perlis-11812_attitude_you-can-measure-a-programmer-s-perspecti_31394.png)

> [FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed - it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/fortran-is-not-a-flower-but-a-weed-it-is-hardy-occasionally-blooms/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/alan-perlis-11812_computer_fortran-is-not-a-flower-but-a-weed-it-is_2475255.png)

> [Because of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches: Banality soothes our nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/because-of-its-vitality-the-computing-field-is-always-in-desperate/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/alan-perlis-11812_banality_because-of-its-vitality-the-computing-fi_1507168.jpg)

> [Every program has (at least) two purposes: the one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/every-program-has-at-least-two-purposes-the-one-for-which-it-was/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

[Computing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computing/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/alan-perlis-11812_computing_every-program-has-at-least-two-purposes_1403371.png)

## Alan Perlis by topic

[Programming (30)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/alan-perlis/) [Technology (27)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/alan-perlis/) [Computers (12)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/alan-perlis/)

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